Coupling



Jan. l2, 1932. L, BURN 1,841,008

COUPLING Filed April ll. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l iiyl l Z 7 Jan. 12, 1932.BURN 1,841,008

COUPLING Filed April l1. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. l2, 1932.

COUPLING Filed April l1. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. BURN 1,841,008 Y Jan.12, 1932. BURN 1,841,008

COUPLING Filed April 1l, 1930 4 SheetS-Shee't 4 86 Il; J ,95 61 i J so Sd sa 1 1/ Patented 3311.12, 1932 UNITED STATES 'PATENT' OFFICE LEWIS OFLCNDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CHARLES FREDERICK CLAPHAML 0FSUR-REY, ENGLAND COUPLING Application filed April. 11, 1930, Serial No.443,541, and in Great Britain April 19, 1929.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to couplings and hasfor its object to detaching shafts, drawbar elements, electric cables,fluid conduits and the like. p

This inventio'nrprovides coupling means f for shafts, cables and thelike, comprising `two members, one of which is formed with an apertureinto which the second member may ,o be completely or'partly inserted anda locking element, or elements, movable over the aperture to prevent theremoval of the second y said member therefrom. Preferably the twomembers lare engageable by relative lateral 5 movement between them andthe' locking element is arranged for rotational ymovement relative tothe apertured member to close, or partly close, the aperture. Thisinvention also provides improved coupling means .for l shafts,cables orthe like, comprising two coupling members formed at their ends one witha key or the like and the other with a key-way which extend transverselyof the length of .the coupling members and are engageablo i by relativelateral movement between them, combined with a locking element orelements on one or both coupling members movable to lock saidmembersagainst relative lateral movement of a degree sufficient to breakthe keyed engagement between them. The locking-member may be a sleeverotatable upon thatcoupling member in which the keyway'is' formed tocover and uncover the entrance opening or openings of the keyway.

In a modified construction according to this invention the lockingelement `may vbe provided with a breach through which one 0f the membersmay be inserted laterally and whichl locking element ially to close thebreach:

In one embodiment of the invention plied to-the coupling of two'conduits to end, the coupling device comprises an annular retainingmember which surrounds the end of one conduit and has in it a breachthrough which the end of the other conduit may be inserted laterallyinto alignment with the first conduit, and a locking sleeve rotatable onthe annularv member aforesaid and so arranged that simultaneously withits ropro-vide means forrapidly attaching and may' be movable aX- end.

Figure 3 is van end view looking in the direction of the arrow 3 inFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a coupling for fluid conduits,

Figure mis an outside elevation of the coupling shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 shows a modied form of the coupling shownfin Figures 4I and 5,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through I a coupling for electricalcablestaken lonline 7-7 of Figure 8,

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 in Figure 7 and looking inthe direction of the arrows, i V

Figure 9 is an elevation of one member of the coupling shown in Figures7 and 8,

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 10,*10 in Figure 9 and lookingin the direction of the arrows,

Figure l1 is a longitudinal section of an alternative coupling device ofconduits, and

Figure. 12 is an' end view of this alternative coupling device. i

. Throughout this description like reference numerals indicate likeparts. l

The coupling illustrated in Figures l and 2 is arranged to-provide meansfor rapidly connecting and disconnecting the two ends of a cable such asa Bowden wire cable for example interconnectingfthe brakes upon a lorryand a trailer. The coupling comprises a cylindrical casing 10(constituting one of the main coupling members) having a flange l1 forattachment to any convenient member (e. g. upon the lorry or thetrailer). Within this casing l0y is a slidably mounted a sleeve-18(constituting the other mainv coupling member) having two projectingiianges 19 between which is engaged an in-v wardly projecting flange 20upon the end of the casing 10, the latter being provided upon itsperiphery with a breach 108 which permits the introduction by lat-.eralmovement of the key membe-r and its sleeve. Surrounding the casing 10 isa cover, or locking ele'- ment 21, having a portion of its peripheryremoved (as shown in Figure 2) to provide a breach 109 through which thecable element 16 and its casing 18 may be inserted and withdrawn. Thelocking member '21 is rotatable by means of a handle 22 to cove-r thebreach 108 and to prevent. the lateral separation of the two couplingmembers. Within thchandle 22 is a ball 23 which is pressed by a spring24into one of two countersunk holes 25 in the casing 10 to retain thelocking member in the open, or in the closedposition.

The sheaths 26 and 27 of the two cables 13- and 17 respectively arearranged to abut the one upon a cylindrical extension 28 of the casing10 and the other upon the sleeve 18.

It will be seen that the bore of the casing l 10 and that of thecylindrical extension 28,

accommodates the to and fro movement of the cable element 12 and theconnected keyl member 16 which will take place on the application of thebrakes. Movement in .a direction towards the left in Figure 1 is opposedby a spring 100 surrounding theicable element 12. ,p

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a coupling for iiuid conduits. The couplingcomprises a member 30 having a flange' 31 for attachment to anyconvenient support. Surrounding the member 30 is a locking element 21provided at one end with a breach 33 through which the-second member 34of the coupling may be oifered laterally. The member 34 is providedwith'a flange 35 which is arranged to engage with an inwardlyproject-ing flange 36 on the locking element 21. Formed on the peripheryof the member 30 are two spiral grooves 37 which are slidably engaged bybolts 38 passing through the locking element 21'. The operation of thedevice is as follows The member 34 is passed late-rally through thebreach 33 until it is in axial alignment with the member 30. The handle22 is-now rotated, causing the locking element 21 to move axially overthe member 30, thus forcing the inner end of the member 3 4 into endonengagement with a resilient joint-washer 39 carried in a recess in theinterior of the member 30. A fluid-tight joint is thus formed betweenthe members 30 and 34. The locking element 21 is retained in its open orclosed position by means of a spring-pressed free end with a pin 43which projects through a slot 44 in the locking element and engages anannular recess 45 inthe member 30. The axial movement of the locking.element 21 necessary to force the member 34 into engage- 'ment with thejoint-washer 39`is effected by depressing the lever 40, which increasesthe distance between the pin 43 and the pivot 41. The lever 40 isarranged to move below the centre line so that it is self-locking.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a couplingfor electric cables. Thecoupling comprises a cylindrical member provided with a iiange 51, whichmember is slotted longitudinally to form a breach 52 and is furtherpierced at each side with apertures 53. To the walls, or ribs, of metal54 separating the breach 52 from the apertures 53 are attached strips ofinsulating material 55 each of which carries siX terminals 56 andinwardly projecting brushes 57. The second part of the coupling isformed by a cylindrical bobbin indicated generally by the numeral 58provided with six metal contact rings 59 insulated from each other bynon-conducting rings 60. A lead 61 is carried, from each ring 59, in arecess 62 formed in an interior sleeve 63 of nonconducting material, toabinding post 64 in one end flange 65 of the bobbin 58. Each bindingpost, of which there are sixl in all, is insulated from -the metalflange 65 by a sleeve 66 and washers 67 of insulating material.

The six strands from one cable are taken through the aperture 68 in theiianged end of the member 50 and slots 71 and are connected to the sixbinding posts 56 on one side. Alternatively, connections may be made toalternate binding posts upon each side but whichever of these methods isadopted, connections will-be taken between the corresponding of thebobbin 58 and are bent outwards and attached to the binding posts 64;the ends of the strands and the binding posts are protected by a cover70. Surrounding the member 50 is a locking element 21 provided with abreach 33 which may be turned until it corresponds with the breach 52.The bobbin 58 is then entered laterally through the two breaches and thebrushes '57 each' make con-i tact with their respective'rings 59 uponthe bobbin. The locking element 2l may then be rotated into the positionshown in Figure 8 to cover the breach and prevent lateral disengagementof the bobbin. l

The Ycoupling illustratedin Figures l1 and r 12 will now be described.The device illuspurpose of coupling together end to end two conduits 80,81. The conduit 8O has a flanged end 82 within a recess in which isreceived'a resilient washer 83. The conduit 81 has 'a flanged end 84arranged to abut on the washer 83 and to make a fluidtight joint whenthe coupling device is closed. The coupling device comprises acylindrical casing provided at one end with a flange 1l for attachmentto any convenient support. At the other end the casing is formed with aninturned rib 85 for the purpose of engaging on 'the outside of theflange 84 of the conduit 81. The casing 10 is formed with a breach 86through which the end of the conduit 84 may be offered. Surrounding thecasing 10 is a locking sleeve- 21 rotatable on -the casing by means of ahandle 22. The handle 22 is formed with an extension screwed into anannular member 88 which surroundsthe conduit 80. The member 88 is freeto rotate on and move axially on the conduit 8O.` The periphery of themember 80 is trated is for the -screwthreaded as shown at 89 and engagedby a co-operating internal screwthread on the casing 10. A slot 90 isprovided in the casing 10 to accommodate rotational and axial movementof the handle extension 8T in relation, to the casing. Between theannular member f 88 and the flange 82 of the conduit 80 a thrust bearing91 is located, and onthe opposite side between the member 88 and a disc92 secured to the conduit 80, a spring 93 is located.

This device operates in the following way. I`o make the coupling theflange 84 of the con- :luit 81 is inserted through the breach 86 in zhecasing 10 and is thereby brought into alignment with the conduit 80. Thehandle 22 is now turned through 120o thereby rotatng the locking sleeve21 and the annular nember 88. By virtue of the screw-threaded engagement89 the annular member 88 and yhe sleeve 21 are moved axially in adirection owards the left in Figure 11, thus forcing the langed end 82of the conduit 80 into abutrient with theflanged end 84 of theconduit 1. A fluid-tight joint is thus effected by leans of the washer83. Axial movement of he sleeve21 at the same time encloses the reach 26in the casing 10 and thereby preents lateral separation of' the twoconduits. Vhen the coupling is to be opened the handle 2. is rotated inthe opposite direction. The cki'ng sleeve/21 is retained in its lockedpotion-by means of a spring-pressed ball 9.4.

I claim 1. In a coupler for cables the combination of the couplingmembers,

87 which is' of two coupling members, cooperating laterally engageablekey and keyway devices formed on the two said coupling members, twocable elements for the atachment of two cables, one element slidablymounted in each and cooperating laterally engageable key and keywaydevices formed on the two said cable elements, whereby one couplingmember and its cable element may be moved laterally into and out of keyand keyway connection with the other coupling member and its cableelement.

2. In a coupler for cablesLthe combination of a coupling member, a cableelement slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, a secondcoupling member and a second cable element slidably mounted therein forthe operating means on said elements and members whereby the twocoupling members and the two cable elements coupled together. l

3. In a coupler for cables, the combination of a. coupling member, acable element slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, asecond coupling member and a second cable element slidably mountedthereinfor the attachment of another cable and means for simultaneouslycoupling together the two coupling members and the two cable elements byrelative lateral movement between them.

In a coupler for cables, the combination of a coupling member, a cableelement slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, a secondcoupling member and a second .cable element slidably mounted thereinfor' the attachment of another cable, and means for simultaneouslybringing the two coupling members into key` and keyway engagement andthe two cablerelements i ntokey and -f keyway engagement..

5. In a coupler for cables, the combination of a coupling member, acable element slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, asecond coupling member and a second cable element slidably mountedtherein for the attachment of another cable, and means forsimultaneously bringing the two coupling members into key and keywayengagement and two cable elements into key and keyway engagement byrelative lateral movement. f

6. In a coupler for cables. the combination of a coupling member, acable element slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, asecond coupling member and a second cable element slidably mountedtherein for the attachment of another cable, and means forsimultaneously interlocking the respective coupling members and therespective cable elements.

7. In a coupler for cables, the combination of la coupling member, acable element slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, asecond coupling member and a secattachment of another cable and comay besimultaneously 'ond cable element vslidably mounted therein Jfor theattachment of another.Y cable and means for simultaneously interlockingthe.

'respective coupling members and the respective cable elements byrelative lateral movement.

,8. In a coupler for cables, the combination of a coupling member, acable element slidably mounted therein for the attachment of a cable, asecond coupling member and a second cable element slidably mountedtherein for the attachment of. another cable, means l for simultaneouslyinterlocking the respective coupling members and the respectivecableelements, and a lockingl sleeve mounted on one of said couplingmembers and rotatable to maintain the aforesaid interlock.

9. In a coupler for cables, the combination of a coupling member formedwith a slotted internally projecting flange, a cable element slidablymounted in said member vand formed at one end with a transverse slot, asecond coupling member resting in the slot `of the internally projectinflange and formed with two flanges space apart thereon vwith theaforesaid slotted liange between them and a second cable elementslidably mounted in said second member vand formed at one end with aflange resting'in the aforesaid transverse slot,.engagement between therespective coupling members and between the respective cable elementsbeing made and broken by relative lateral movement.

10. The combination with apparatus as claimed in-claim 9, of a lockingsleeve mounted on the irst-mentioned coupling member and movable thereonto prevent disengagement of said members and elements.

.'11. In a coupler 4for cables, the combina' tion of a couplingmemberformed with a breach and a key, a cable elementslidably mounted in saidmember and 'formed with a transverse slot at one end which is exposed bythe `breach aforesaid, a second coupling member formed at one end with atransverse key-v way, a second cable element Aslidably mount ed 1n sa1dsecond member and Jformed at one end with' a transverse keyway, saidsecond4 coupling member a'nd cable element being movable intointerlocking engagement re` spectively with' the first member and cableelement by simultaneously lateral movement through the breachaforesaid', and :a locking sleeve mounted on the first, coupling memberand movablethreon to cover and uncover the 12. The combination, withapparatus according to claim 2 of a spring inside the firstcouplingmember and surrounding the cable element which is mountedtherein andtending to move said elementm one direction.

In testimony whereof

